The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-20
TO BE SETTLED BY LAW.
THE WET COTTON CASES LIKELY
TO GO INTO THE COURTS.

Shippers in the Resolute Ask to be In
demnifed-The Lack of Insurance
and Certainty of Detention the
Cause 49, The Underwriters Want
Her to Send the Damaged Cotton
Forward, and Offer the Captain
Spanish Vessel.
The shippers of cotton who are contem-
plating sending cotton forward in the
steamship Resolute are in a quandary over
what they shall do. In the first place in
surance upon the cargo is very doubtful.
One shipper received letter from the clubs
yesterday confirming a previous telegram
The pith of the telegram was that If the
risk was taken it would be with extra rates
to protect the company in case the ship
should be detained by litigation. The re-
cipient of this letter was about to send for
ward 100 bales, but he has not made up
his mind to do so yet, and it is not
at all probable that he will. Speaking of
the matter last night he said that the po-
sition in which he was placed was an awk-
ward one. He could ship the cotton, send
forward his bills of lading all right, but
suppose the ship should be detained for three
months. The spinners to whom he shipped
are away off in Bremen and they do not
know of the situation in which the Resolute
is placed, but he does, and if he should ship
the cotton in the Resonte his patrons would
say that he did not look after their interest
in putting it in a ship that was likely to be
detained, and the result would be that he
would get no more orders from them.
A SERIOUS QUESTION.
This is Just as serious a question to the
g
shipper who put | 900 bales in the Resolute
before the question of litigation was brought
up has asked the agent for letters of indem-
nifty. This demand has caused an additional
embarrassment to the Resolute, for if the
ship must indemnify the Shippers in case she
is detained, it being probable that she will
be, the amount of money that would be
risGed by her on that indemnity would te
no small sum. There is little doubt but that
a big law suit will arise over the wet cotton
case yet, and as the Naples is taking similar
steps in her case, she will probably be in
volved also.
When freighter takes cargo its con-
tract is TO carry it forward to the destina-
ton or send it forward, and that is what the
underwriters want the Resolute and Naples
to do, but the ships are not disposed to move
the damaged cotton from where 1t Is.
THE COTTON NOT SOLD.
The Resolute advertised its cotton for
sale, but the advertisement was withdrawn.
The danger of selling the cotton in direct
opposition to the demands of the under
writers was probably great and no doubt
weighed with the Captain i'll determining
to withdraw it from SALE But that being
done the case remained as complicated as
ever.
The cotton is lying on the wharf deterior
ating more and more every day. This
a Ill al
if they would stand it, for it would not
show up until the final settlement was made
and the value of the damaged cotton ap-
praised for an adjustment of the loss. 1t is
not probable, however, that the underwent
ers will consent to pay loss entailed by the
inactivity of the other parties at interest
In order to prevent a further loss they will
try and obtain the cotton when the bills of
lading are returned. In the meantime they
are trying TO send it forward. They wanted
the Resolute to ship it in another British
vessel, but the Captain said that it could
not be done, as the Consul would interfere,
the Naval Court having passed its decision
upon the fitness of the cargo.
ANOTHER VESSEL OFFERED.
The underwriters have, therefore. OBJ
tanned Spanish vessel, whose owners know
the condition of the cargo, and they have
offered this vessel to the Captain of the
Resolute and asked him to send the
damaged cotton forward III her
He has not yet determined what
he will do, but this offer prevents the
reply that was made in the former case, for
the British Consul has nothing to do with
Spanish vessel Should he fail totise the
vessel then law suit viii be inevitable, for
the underwriters say that they will not per-
NIT the Resolute to leave port until their
claims are satisfied if they have to libel her
to keep her, and their claim is that she shall
take on the damaged cotton to its destina-
ton.